A PAIR of ear-rings went missing from the body of an elderly woman in a hospital mortuary, it was claimed yesterday.

Margaret Watson, known as Jean, died at her South Wales home after suffering a heart attack.

The body of the 67-year-old was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport for a post-mortem examination but her family is now claiming that her gold stud earrings were removed while there.

Son-in-law Phillip Hurn said, "She went there with her wedding ring on and a pair of gold ear-rings in her ears. We had the wedding ring back but not the earrings.

"They were taken off her body. They were studs so they were not going to come out."

Mr Hurn said his father-in-law, George, 69, was not concerned about the cost of the earrings, which he bought for between £50 and £70.

"It is the thought of somebody going into the mortuary, opening the fridge and touching her body," he said.

"My father-in-law was quite distraught."

Mrs Watson was taken to the hospital on December 27 but an undertaker who collected her body on January 1 contacted the family to say that only her wedding ring was present.

Mr Hurn, 45, who lives just minutes from the home of his parents-in-law in Trethomas, said the family had been told the earrings were on Mrs Watson's body when a post-mortem examination was carried out.

A spokesman for Gwent NHS Healthcare Trust said it was not known if the ear-rings were stolen but added that at least two people attend the mortuary out of hours and the key is logged by security.

"This is an extremely rare and unfortunate incident but one which we fully accept is distressing for the family of Mrs Watson," he said.

"During the past 20 years there have only been two incidents where personal effects have been lost."

"We will continue to work with the police to investigate the loss of the earrings and offer our support to the Watson family."